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Defining your personal style while also finding ways to make your wardrobe feel more cohesive is all about making it easy to transition your pieces from season to season. One of the easiest (and most classic) items to style in your closet is a dress. This simple item of clothing can be dressed up or dressed down, while also being an appropriate outfit to wear for anything: date nights, brunch with friends, or even to the office. Even better? A great dress can act as an entire outfit in itself, requiring only that you complete the look with your favorite accessories.

But unpredictable spring weather can make styling an outfit difficult. One day could be filled with sunshine and temps that make you ready for summer, while the next could be rainy, dreary and cold. One thing is for sure during the springtime—layers, layers, layers.

Whether you’re a fan of a daily, casual look or you prefer to reserve your dresses for more fancy occasions, we’re here to help you transition these pieces from the cold weather into the warmer months of spring (and prepare to take them into the hot temps of summer, too) instead of stashing them in the back of your closet until next year.

T-Shirt Dress & Blazer

Blazers have become a staple in our wardrobe—and we don’t just mean for the office. They are the perfect lightweight layer to add over a longer dress on cooler days, but can easily be unbuttoned (or removed entirely) as the temperatures rise. Wearing a long maxi dress also helps to keep your legs covered but is also lightweight enough to be the perfect transitional dress for summer. A few pastel touches make it feel like spring, and sandals are a refresh over the chunky footwear from winter. If the temps are still low where you’re at, simply swap the heels for boots to keep your toes warm and dry.

Tank Dress & Turtleneck

A lightweight turtleneck is another staple item that you should have in your closet. It’s an ideal base layer for the fall and winter months, pairing perfectly underneath sweaters, cardigans, and dresses alike. But it can also be an ideal transition piece as the warmer weather sets in. A tank dress or shorter skirt might feel right at home during the summer, but you can make it spring appropriate by adding this thin layer underneath. Tights can provide warmth for your legs, whether you prefer a more sheer set or the thick, fleece-lined version. Top it off with your favorite boots and you have an outfit perfect for a casual afternoon with friends.

Floral Dress & Cropped Cardigan

Hello spring and the return of floral prints and brighter colors. A ruffled or tiered floral dress is right at home during spring and summer when styled with sandals or heels. But, until the temps rise and you’re ready to shed those layers, a cropped cardigan and boots give you the style you’re craving while balancing these unpredictable months. And, if you’re a lover of the darker, more muted tons of fall and winter, a moody floral print is just what you need to tiptoe into spring.

Mini Dress & Denim Jacket

Are you seeing a trend here? A denim jacket is one item in our closets that is on perpetual repeat. Much like a blazer, a jean jacket is a layer that can be easily taken off on warmer days or can provide the coverage that you need on colder ones. When paired with a shorter t-shirt dress, it breaks up the straight lines of the shift dress and could even be tied around the waist to give more definition to your midsection. Styled with other classic accessories like white sneakers, sunglasses, and simple jewelry, this is one of our everyday, go-to outfit ideas.

Midi Dress & Sweater

If you’re not quite ready to let go of the cozy, chunky sweaters from winter, this is the look for you. A sleeveless or strappy dress that you might otherwise think can only be worn on sunny days can be styled with a sweater over top. Using a thin belt at the waist, you can tuck your sweater in (or wear the belt on top) to give the illusion that you are wearing a skirt, all while simultaneously repurposing this warm weather dress. Plus, as the spring months transition into the summer ones, you can swap the boots for flat sandals or heels and remove the sweater entirely!

Long Sleeve Dress & Boots

Long sleeves. Long pants. Those are the obvious choices for cooler weather, but they can work just as well in the transitional months, too. A hint of floral adds a springtime feel to this denim dress, while the tall boots say that you’re not ready to leave winter behind just yet. Classic, minimalist jewelry completes the look with a bit of shine. This is a look that you can put together in minutes.

Maxi Dress & Long Cardigan

We get it—the cropped look isn’t for everyone. (And, we admit, can be a bit trendy.) For that reason, we can’t leave out the all-too-familiar favorite cardigan. Whether you prefer the long length of a duster, or a more traditional style, a cardigan is a layer that can be worn practically every day, during practically every season. This staple wardrobe piece looks great when styled with a longer dress, and gives the perfect backdrop to a brighter, bolder color or print. Dress it up with heels or dress it down with sandals—either way, this outfit is layered springtime perfection.